Auditor

Why was the office of the County Auditor created?

The office of County Auditor was created in 1870 as part of a revamping of county government. The duties of the office covered areas that had previously been given to the County Judge in 1851 in the first Code of Iowa, and then to the Clerk of Court in 1861 with the formation of the Board of Supervisors. The State Legislature added the duties of Commissioner of Elections in the early 1970's.The County Auditor is an elected position with a term of four years.

Information provided by the Iowa State Association of County Auditors, 1995.

Financial duties of the Auditor include:

• Preparation of the county's budget information submitted by its departments and other agencies
• Issue payment for all services, materials, and payroll charged to the county
• Maintain county department ledgers throughout the fiscal year (July 1 through June 30)
• Maintains permanent financial records for the county

For information regarding the budget, contact Leslie Groen, Auditor, at 319-267-2670.
For information regarding bills and/or payroll, contact , Amy Shepard, HR/Finance at 319-267-2670.

Some of the duties the Auditor performs as clerk to the Board of Supervisors may include:

• Accept petitions, register complaints or act on routine business in the absence of the Board
• Prepares board meeting agendas, notifies the media, and attends all Board meetings
• Keeps and records board meeting minutes, and publishes the proceedings in the official county newspapers
• Initiates bid notices, solicits proposals for county contracts for materials and services, and receives contract proposals
• Official papers dealing with Board of Supervisors' business are referenced and maintained by the Auditor

Supervisors meet in the Boardroom every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information, or to be placed on the agenda, email Leslie Goren, Auditor or call 319-267-2670.

As Commissioner of Elections, the Auditor is in charge of:

• Regular and special elections in the county -- federal, state, county, city, and school district
• Prepares and supervises the printing of ballots and/or programming of voting machines as well as ordering all election supplies
• Conducts training for precinct election officials, and provides information to see that the election laws of Iowa are obeyed
• Provides public information regarding voter registration and conducts voter registration efforts in the county
• Maintains all official voter registration records
• Certifies the election results to the state or to the political subdivision involved, and issues certificates of election to the proper person
• Maintains election records

For additional information regarding elections or voter registration, see Elections or contact Matt Wilken, Elections Deputy, or Leslie Groen, Auditor 319-267-2670.

Real Estate duties include:

• Enter and maintain records of all real estate transfers in the county
• Keeps the plat maps and transfer books current so that the public can examine the books to determine property ownership.
• Auditor's Office works closely with area realtors, attorneys, property owners and other individuals who deal with real estate transactions.

For more information, contact: Lisa Beadle, Real Estate Deputy, 267-2670.